The Eversburg sewage treatment plant is designed to serve 250,000 population equivalents and is one of three plants operated by the city of Osnabrück in northern Germany. But in 2005, its actual load was closer to 309,000 population equivalents (COD 80 mg/l), pushing the nitrogen input level above the plant's capabilities.

To deal with this situation, engineer Peter Sikora organized a team to develop a process-based alternative to biological elimination of nitrogen. Their proposal was evaluated within the scope of the plant’s idea management program, known as “My Idea”. At its core, the proposal involves the use of existing basins and established biological process engineering.

The decision in favor of this solution was accompanied by a step-by-step implementation plan: A feasibility study in the lab led to a pilot plant. Positive results here were scaled up to operational experiments in small basins. These findings served as the foundation for implementing a major system to serve 60,000 inhabitants.

Demanding pumping tasksThe pumps moving filtration water into the nitrogen elimination plant are a critical aspect of the concept. The pH of the water ranges from 11 to 11.5, temperature is approximately 30 °C, and conditioning is provided by lime and Iron III. Originally the plant used centrifugal pumps, but their mechanical seals calcified, the pumps leaked, and aggressive lime water penetrated into the motors. As a result, the pumps could stay in service for only a few weeks at a time.

In 2006, the plant began using Allweiler peristaltic pumps as an alternative to the centrifugal pumps from another manufacturer. “The pumps have been running around the clock without any problems even since,” according to Mr. Sikora. The hose material is so durable that neither the lime nor any other component of the filtration water results in any significant wear. In addition to mechanical and chemical loads, the filtrate can also emit ammonia. As a result, the pump must be able to handle not just a critical liquid phase but a difficult gas phase as well.

Allweiler engineers provided detailed advisory services and collaborated closely with the team at the plant in order to optimize the processes in such a way that neither pulsation nor calcification should affect operations.

Related articles

Chemical and biomedical researchers use the programmable syringe pumps for infusing and withdrawing small amounts of fluid. It helps to mix, separate, and process microfluidics in high precision experiments. Further, it reduces error in biomedical and chemical experiments by providing better infusion control to researchers. The programming ability of syringe pumps help researchers to precisely control and administer experiments based on predetermined control parameters. The programmability feature has advanced...

A new approachIt is hard to think of another environment where an equipment failure could have a greater negative impact on employee safety and lost production than an offshore oil and gas production platform. Yet offshore platforms are among the world’s most difficult locations to operate and maintain equipment. In most cases, skilled people and supplies can only reach the platform by ship or helicopter so the cost of bringing technical specialists, replacement equipment, spare parts and tools to the...

Bell & Gossett is nation’s only pump brand to meet efficiency requirements 3+ years early
Xylem Inc. brand Bell & Gossett announces its e-Series line of products achieves and exceeds efficiency targets for clean-water pumps set forth by the U.S. Department of Energy, more than three years in advance of the 2020 compliance date. In addition, Xylem’s pump test laboratories in Morton Grove, Illinois, and Seneca Falls, New York, have been approved through the Hydraulic Institute Pump Test Lab...

Well, you’ve made it this far, and I am guessing that you are coming back because I have provided some useful information to help you understand the differences and nuances of a binary versus quaternary pump. This final chapter will help you think of some questions to ask when you are trying to make a decision of which pump to buy, or which system you would like to implement in the lab.
Which pump is right for my application?
Well, that depends…didn’t I say I would say that a lot in my...

How to decide which chromatography system pump is right for you
Well, you’ve made it this far and I am guessing that you are coming back because I have provided some useful information to help you understand the differences and nuances of a binary versus quaternary solvent manager for a liquid chromatography instrument. This final chapter will help you think of some questions to ask when you are trying to make a decision about which pump to buy, or which system you would like to implement in the lab.
Which...

Customer comments

No comments were found for Peristaltic pumps for moving filtration water. Be the first to comment!

Add your comment

Great! comment successfully added!

Contact supplier

Your message:

Your email

Your first name

Your last name

I would like to receive periodic email updates and special offers from select suppliers.